A cross-national comparison of anti-anxiety/sedative drug use
- 1 January 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa Healthcare in Current Medical Research and Opinion
- Vol. 8 (sup4), 5-20
- https://doi.org/10.1185/03007998409109541
Abstract
Findings are reported from a 1981 cross-national survey of the use of anti-anxiety/sedative medications by adults in the general population of the United States and 10 Western European countries. Representative national samples in the 11 countries were asked a standard set of questions about their use of these medications during the preceding 12 months. Data were obtained by personal interview in the course of a household visit. The number of persons interviewed ranged from 1486 to 2018. The data provide comparable estimates of past-year prevalence of use — the proportion of the population who took these medications one or more times, and duration of use — and the proportion of the population who took these medications daily for various lengths of time. Rates for past-year prevalence of use varied from 17.6% in Belgium to 7.4% in the Netherlands. The United States at 12.9% was in the middle of the distribution. There was wide variation among countries in the prevalence of long-term and short-term use, but regular daily use for 3 months or less was the predominant pattern in 10 of the 11 countries surveyed. Past-year prevalence rates were much higher for women than for men in every country surveyed. At the national level, the data show that simple past-year prevalence rates and durational parameters of use are relatively independent.Keywords
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